Junction may be improved after Abbie's death
SUFFOLK'S road chief has said changes may be made to a notorious junction following the recent death of a 22-year-old woman.
Anthony Bond
SUFFOLK'S road chief has said changes may be made to a notorious junction following the recent death of a 22-year-old woman.
Guy McGregor, portfolio holder for roads, transport and planning at Suffolk County Council, said engineers are looking at options for changing the B1113 Bramford Road junction in Great Blakenham, near Ipswich.
It follows the death in August of Abbie Pennell after her Mitsubishi Warrior pick-up truck was involved in a collision with a coach at the junction, which is close to the A14.
The scene of the crash is adjacent to land earmarked for the construction of an incinerator and close to the proposed SnOasis winter sports complex development.
Measures have already been taken to improve the safety of the junction following Ms Pennell's death, which includes the removal of direction signs to improve visibility. The renewal of the junction's markings has also been ordered and will soon be undertaken.
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But Cllr McGregor said more changes may be made.
He said: “I have already asked our road safety engineers to look at the traffic issues on the B1113 following concerns of people from Great Blakenham. They are going to work through some options for changing the junction and I am waiting to see the results of this.
“I am of course aware that the other developments planned for the area are likely to result in the need for further improvements and I have therefore asked that the safety engineers work closely with our development management team and planners to ensure that, where possible, the design of the safety scheme considers the impact of these.”
Following the crash which killed Ms Pennell, Great Blakenham Parish Council called for changes to be made to the road.
Chairwoman Shirley Fairburn said: “The accident caused havoc in the village. It was chaos. This wasn't the first bad accident there. There have been several - it's known as a bad spot for traffic, one of the worst in the county.”
